LAS CRUCES >> Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. voiced concerns Wednesday night amid beliefs President Obama will announce Thursday that SunZia will be allowed to run a transmission power line through the northern area of White Sands Missile Range.

The SunZia project would carry renewable energy from solar and wind projects in eastern and central New Mexico to Western markets.

Pearce said late Wednesday that by selecting the route, which WSMR officials have had reservations about, Obama has decided to choose an Arizona company's profits over national security and New Mexico jobs.

"It is irresponsible that the White House would side with corporate profits over the safety and wellbeing of our men and women in uniform," said Pearce, in a news release issued by his Washington office. "White Sands Missile Range provides the military with the only long range 'live-fire' facility to test future weapons systems essential for our national defense.

"Allowing the SunZia project to interfere with our national security shows this administration's continued disregard for those who risk their lives for our freedom," Pearce said. "We must not allow political influence and corporate profits to interfere with national security. It is not an acceptable answer for the people of New Mexico or the people of the United States."

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WSMR officials did not immediately comment on report.

Senior Army, Navy, and Department of Defense officials have repeatedly opposed Obama's apparent selected route, which they have said would reduce WSMR operations by 30 percent. A reduction of this size, would reduce the range's ability to conduct critical national security operations.

In March, senior administration officials and congressional staff were briefed on a classified report that showed several potential negative impacts the project could have on WSMR's mission. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology study concluded that construction of the line across the northern extension area would adversely affect the national security test missions at the facility. The Department of Defense proposed an alternative that would allow construction of the line and protect WSMR missions.

SunZia has resisted moving the route a few miles outside the range or burying the line. Project manager Tom Wray has said any alternative route could kill the $1.2 billion project because changes would require environmental studies that could take years to complete.

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